What is "syvash"

The Syvash or Sivash ( Russian and Ukrainian: ; or , "dirt"), also known as the or (, Gniloye More; , Hnile More; or ), is a large system of shallow lagoons on the west coast of the Sea of Azov. Separated from the sea by the narrow Arabat Spit, the water of the Syvash covers an area of around and the entire area spreads over about . Its eastern connection to the Sea of Azov is called the Henichesk Strait. Lying on the northeastern coast of the Crimean Peninsula, control of the area is disputed between Ukraine and Russia.